Operating pole assembly for high-tension lines



Oct. 16, 195] 5,. c, HUBBARD 2,571,246

OPERATING POLE ASSEMBLY FOR HIGH TENSION LINES Filed 0O(.. 25, 1946 6Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

MJKW

Oct. 16, 1951 D, c, HUBBARD 2,571,246

OPERATING POLE ASSEMBLY FOR HIGH TENSION LINES Filed Oct. 23, 1946 6Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. 3m 4.

D. C. HUBBARD Oct. 16, 1951 I OPERATING POLE ASSEMBLY FOR HIGH TENSIONLINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 25, 1946 INVENTOR. @m 6. Mi

WKWM

Oct. 16, 1951 c HUBBARD 2,571,246

OPERATING POLE ASSEMBLY FOR HIGH TENSION LINES Filed Oct. 25, 1946 6Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 3% (Y Oct. 16, 1951 Q U D 2,571,246

OPERATING POLE ASSEMBLY FOR HIGH TENSION LINES Filed Oct. 23, 1946 6Sheets-Sheet 5 I/Z GZ 6 /5 L a Q 7 JNVENTOR.

Oct. 16, 1951 c, HUBBARD 2,571,246

OPERATING POLE ASSEMBLY FOR HIGH TENSION LINES Filed Oct. 23, 1946 6Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. QQMCW flxzm Patented Oct. 16, 1951 OPERATINGPOLE ASSEMBLY FOR HIGH -TENSION LINES David C. Hubbard, Centralia, Mo.,assignor to A. B. Chance Company, Centralia, Mo., a corporation ofMissouri Application October 23, 1946, Serial No. 705,107

2 Claims. (Cl. 29419) The present invention relates to operating poleassemblies for high tension lines, and is particularly concerned with animproved assembly including one or more of the operating poles usuallycalled wire tongs. employed for many different purposes, one of theprincipal functions of the :tong being for the purpose of manipulatingor moving a high tension wire away from the cross arms and insulatorsafter the tie wire has been removed to permit the lineman to work aboutthe upper part of the pole without danger from the high tension wireswhich may still be energized. Thus the wire tongs enable the lineman towork safely by using the tongs to push the wires away from the vicinityfrom which the workman is to operate.

The high voltage line wires are under considerable tension wheninstalled on the poles, and the wire tongs are thus compelled to operateupon a relatively tight wire which the wire tongs must push away fromthe cross arm and pole, at the same time increasing the tension of theline wire. Thus it becomes necessary to exert considerable force axiallyon a wire tong and the assembly must have something to clamp the wiretong in place and to hold the tong in its final position with the wirepushed out of its normal position on the insulator.

For this purpose the wire tong is supported by a wire tong clamp, whichis pivotally mounted upon a saddle thatis secured .to the line pole. Inorder to exert suflicient force to move the wire tong axially in itssaddle some force multiplying device, such as a blockand tackle, may beemployed.

The assemblies of the prior art with which I am familiar applied theblock and tackle in such manner that it did not act axially of the wiretong. Instead the block and tackle tended to bend the wire tong pole,and also tended to cause the wire tong pole to bind in its clamp.

One of the objects of the present invention is a provision of animproved operating pole assembly, including a block and tackle or otherforce multiplying means for moving a wire tong in its clamp, in whichthe force multiplying means is so arran ed as .to act in substantiallyan axial direction, thus eliminating as far as possible the bendingmoment which was placed on wire tong poles in devices of the prior art,and increasing the factor of safety for a .pole of given strength andsize.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved wiretong assembly .provided with force multiplying means for-acting in Suchwire tongs are a substantially axial direction between the clamp and theend of the wire tong, so that the wire tong may be made to slide in itsclamp with out binding, thus enabling the operator to accomplish hiswork with a lighter block and tackle or with the exertion of less effortthan is necessary with the devices of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedoperating pole assembly which is provided with a force applying meansfor driving the pole in substantially an axial direction through a poleclamp, so that the pole will not be subjected to excessive wear which isotherwise encountered in device of the prior art due to the side pullwhich takes place in those devices of the prior art, tending to wear offthe insulating varnish and to wear and damage the protective surface ofthe pole.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved andsimpler pole operating assembly, which is sturdy, adapted to be usedwith a minimum amount of labor, light in weight :so that it can becarried by the lineman with a minimum amount of effort, and easilymanipulated to actuate a wire tong when the saddle is secured to a linepole and the opposite end of Fig. 2 is a plan view of a wire tongassembly embodying the invention;

.Fig. 3 is a larger plan view of the assembly, shown without the poleand without the block and tackle;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the tong clamp;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the plane of the line5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the device of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view, taken from the right of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view, taken from the left of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 2 .of a modified wire tong assembly;

Fig. 10 is another similar view of a second modification;

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of an anchoring device for securingone of the blocks to the end of a wire tong, as shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view of the device of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view, taken on the plane of the line I3-I3 ofFig. 12, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing how thering fitting of the wire tong is secured in the device of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a front elevational view of one of the clamping members ofthe wire tong clamp when it is equipped with an integral fitting forengaging the hook of the block, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10;

Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of this clamping member;

Fig. 16 is a top plan view ofthis clamping member.

Referring to Fig. 1, thisis an elevational view showing one mode of useof a wire tong assembly embodying the invention. It indicates the linepole, which may support a pair of saddle bases HA and I I3 of the typeillustrated in Fig. l, and indicated by the numeral I I in that figure.

The saddle bases are each secured to the pole by means of a suitablechain I2 and a suitable tightenin and latching mechanism I3,Fig. 2.

Referring again to Fig. 1, each of the saddle base assemblies I IA and IIB carries a clamp 36A and 363 similar to the pole clamp 36 shownin Fig.2 and illustrated in Figs. 3 to 8.

The two pole clamps 36A and 36B each slidably support a wire tong pole46A and 483. The ends of these wire tong poles carry suitable fittingsengaging about the line wire 9 at substantially the same point on thewire. Thus the wire tongs 46A and 463 may be subjected to an axial pushin each case, so that after the wire 9 has had its tie wire removed, thewire 9 may be pushed away from the insulator 8 and may thus leave. thatenvironment free of energized conductors for the linemen to work incomparative safety.

The tongs 46B and 46A and the line pole I form a triangle, and the polesmust, of course, be clamped securely by means of the pole clamps 36A and36B.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, these views show in greater detail theoperating tong as sembly adjacent the line pole, and in addition to theelements already described they include a block and tackle for drivingthe wire tong axially of its clamp.

The saddle base II comprises a ca t metal .member formed with apartially cylindrical surface I4 on its base. The radius on which thesurface I4 is formed may be an average radius for line poles of variousdiameters. The saddle base II preferably tapers in size from its basesurface I4 to a cylindrical supporting lug I which is hollow, and hasits end wall I6 provided with a through-bore I1.

The through-bore I1 is adapted toreceive the trunnion I8 of a connectingring swivel fitting I9, which may have a reduced threaded portion forengagement with the nut 20 located on the inside of the wall I6. I J

The trunnion I8 of fitting I9 carries a disklike member 2| serving as athrust bearing to engage the outside surface 22 of wall I6, and the disk2I carries an outwardly projecting lug 23 which has a through-bore 24and is partially @1 1- 4 cular in shape forming a ring to which clamps,clevises, etc., may be attached.

The saddle base I I is provided at one side with a suitable pair ofslots 25, 26 adapted to receive and anchor any of the links of the chainI2.

The other end of the chain I2 is attached by means of'a pin 21 to thetoggle mechanism I3, which has its other end pivotally secured by pin 28to the saddle base II. Mechanism I3 comprises a plurality of links orlevers forming a toggle by means of which the chain may be tightend,secured and latched. For example, link 29 is pivotally securedat 28 tosaddle base I I and may consist of a pair of similar members. At itsother end link 29 is pivotally secured by means of pin 30 to the handlelever 3I.

Link 32'has its upper end secured to chain I2 by pin 21, and is providedwith an arcuate slot 33 at its lower end for engagement with a pin 34carried by handle lever 3I. Handle lever 3I is pivotally secured to thelower link 29 at 3Il as previously described, and pivotally secured tothe upper link 32 by pin 34 in slot 33.

As the handle lever 3| is rotated clockwise in 32 the linkage I3 iseffectively extended to release the tension on chain I2. The reversemotion of handle lever '3I in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 3causes this toggle to diminish its length, tighten the chain I2 andsecure it when the line of centers 3Il'28 passes center of pin 34.

An additional safety factor is provided by the spring-pressed latch 35pivoted on handle lever 3|, and having a latching hook 36a engaging ashoulder on the link 32. y I

Referring to Fig. 3, the saddle support II, is there shown pivotallysupporting a clamp indicated by 36. The clamp has a pair of aperturedlugs 31, 38 pivotally mounted on the bolt 39, and thebolt also supportsa U'-sh aped clevis 40, each leg of which is apertured' and supportedupon bolt 39. A block and tackle has the hook I hooked in the clevis 40to secure one sheave 42. The other sheave 43 has its hook 44 hooked inthe ring 45 of a metal fitting secured to the end of a wire tong pole 46(Fig. 2)

Thewire tong pole extends through the clamp 35 and at its other end hasa suitable tong or se= curing member to engage and hold an energizedconductor. When the conductor has been re leased from its insulator, byremoving the tie wire and two such assemblies, as shown in Fig. age thewire and the line pole forming a triangle. the block and tackleindicated in its entirety by 4'! of either wire tong or both may e usedto pull on the end of the tong, causing it to slide in the clamp 35 andpushing the energized conductor away from its insulator into such aposition that'the lineman may operate safely around the line pole.

It will be noted that even though the block and tackle 41 is disposedclose to the wire tong 46, the block and tackle operates eccentricallywith respect to the wire tong. There is a tendency of the pole to bindin the clamp and, therefore, it is of the utmost importance that theclamp be so constructed as to facilitate the sliding of the pole in theclamp with a minimum friction.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the clamp 36 preferably comprises two parts 48,49 which are pivotally secured together by means of a pin or rivet 50.Both these members 48, 49v may comprise cast metal members made of oneof the light metals such as a heat treated aluminum alloy, havingparticularly highphysical characteristics, thereby i creasi g the fa torof safety while still maintaining a very light weight. It is of theutmost importance that weight be reduced to a minimum as the linemensometimes have to carry these tools considerable distances over roughterrain and, of course, they are carried while climbing the pole.

The member 49 comprises a cast metal member having a substantially halfcylindrical body 5| with an external cylindrical surface 52, and aninternal cylindrical surface :53, Fig. 5. The body 5| has depending fromit, in Fig. 4, a substant'ially rectangular lug 54 which has alongitudinally extending rectangular slot 55 forming the two legs -31and 38 previously mentioned. These legs have the aligned bores 55a-forreceiving the bolt 39, and the depth of the slot 55 is sufiicient topermit it to receive the swivel ring 23 when the'bolt39 passes throughits bore '24.

The bores 55a extend at right angles to the axis of the cylindricalsurfaces 52 and 53. Lug 54 is preferably joined to the body 5| by a pairof reenforcing ribs 56, 51, Fig. 6, and by another pair. of reenforcingribs 58 and 59 at the opposite side of lug 54.

The inner cylindrical surfaces 53 of the two clamping members 48 and 49are substantially cylindrical throughout, and smooth and-polished so asto engage the wire tong pole with a minimum amount of friction.

At each end of the body there is an outwardly curved surface '61, -'68serving to guide a pole more readily into the clamp and to prevent anyexcessive clamping actionor marking of the pole by the end-corners ofthe clamp.

The inner cylindrical surface '53 comprises substantially one half acylinder for the member 49, and substantially one half a cylinder forthe member 48, and the radius of these surfaces 53 is slightly largerthan the radius of the tong pole 46 such as, ior example, 1?; of an inchgreater than the radius of the pole.

At the right side o'f the member 49,'Fig. 6, the ribs 58 and 59terminate in a pair of laterally projecting pivot flanges 12, 1-3 spacedfrom each other by a slot 14, and having the aligned bores for receivingthe rivet 16. Rivet 16 is adapted to provide a pivotal support for ascrew bolt 11, the lower end of which "is flattened to be received inthe slot '14, rounded to rotate in the slot 14 and provided with athrough-bore 18 for receiving 'r'ivetf16.

The eye 'bolt '11 preferably has a cylindrical shank, the upper end ofwhich is threaded at 80 and provided with a cap nut-8| which is threadedtightly home 'on the end of the bolt to serve as a permanent stop. Thethreaded portion 89 of eye bolt 11 extends well downward on the bolt andcarries a wing nut 82,-which is engaged by a compression spring 83, "theother end of which engages cap nut 8|. Compression spring 83 engages thefia-t upper end 84 of wing nut 82 and serves as a nut lock, safelyholding the wing nut 82 in any clamping or unclamping position.

Wing nut 82 may have a tapered frusto-conical body'85 providedwith anaxially threaded bore 86 through-bore 9| extending parallel to the axesof the clamp. The .ribs .56 and .51 may have extensions 92, 93 aroundthe bearing 99 reenforcing it. The length of the bearing 90, includingribs 92, '93, is sufiicient to be received between a pair of bearings94, .95 carried by the upper member 48. These bearings 94, 95 alsopreferably have reduced cylindrical central portions 96 and reenforcingannular ribs 91, 98 at each end.

The bearings 98 on the lower half project upward above the body 5| andthose on the upper half 48 project downward so that when theiraxes arealigned their two clamping members 48, 49 form a cylindrical boreslightly larger than the pole 46.

The lrivet 50 passing through all of the bearings .99, 94, 95 securesthe two members 48, 49 together for pivotal movement. At its right side,Fig. 4, the upper member 48 is provided with a pair of outwardlyprojecting lugs 99, I80, Fig. 6, separated by a rectangular slot IOI.Slot IIII is wide enough to pass the shank 19 of eye bolt 11.

Lugs 99, I99 have upper fiat surfaces I02. These flat surfaces, however,are large enough only-to engage the bottom annular surface 89 of wingnut 82, and each lug 99, I09 has an upwardly extending lug I93 locatedoutside of the conical body of the wing nut 82 to retain the wing nutbehind them and to prevent the eye bolt 11 from pivoting out of the slotI0 I.

The length of the clamping members in an axial direction is substantialso that there is an elongated clamping surface of large area. When thewing nut 82 is tightened the wire tong pole is securely clamped, butwhen the wing nut is released the pole slides freely with a minimum ofdamage to the surface of the pole. Thus the I pole does not tend to bindin the clamp when it is being actuated by means of a block and tackle.

It will be observed that the block and tackle 41 has one end attachedquite close to the pole 46 at the clamp 36, and the other end attachedto the end of the pole 46 at the fitting 45. Thus the block and tackleis as close as it can be to the axis of the pole 46 without having thepulleys engage the pole 46.

When force is applied to the pole by means of the block and tackle thisforce acts in substantially an axial direction. It exerts substantiallyno side pull which would tend to bend or break the pole, but merelyplaces a compression on the pole, the pole acting as a column; thusthere is no tendency for the pole to bind in its clamp, but on thecontrary the pole slides freely and is merely guided by the clamp duringthis sliding action.

The line wire may be ushed farther away with less effort and the blockand tackle may be of lighter construction. With the devices of the priorart heav loading tended to pull the wire tong out of line, frequentlybowing the lower end of the tong. With the devices of the prior art itwas also difficult after the blocks had been tightened to pivot the wiretongs and the pole clamps about the saddle base.

With the present assembly, as the block and tackle is attached to theclamp outwardly of the pivot on the saddle basethe clamp, tackle andpole still rotate freely on the saddle base after the clamp has beentightened. The block and tackle does not restrict this pivotal movement.Heavy conductors can be handled with greater ease and greater safety tothe-operator bymeans of the assembly shown, and there is less danger ofbreaking poles or of other accidents than with thedevices of the priorart.

Referring to Fig. 9, this is a view similar to Fig. 2 of anothermodified form of assembly, in which the wire tong clamp is provided withan improved structure for anchoring one of the blocks of the block andtackle. In this embodiment of the invention the upper block 43 issecured to the ring fitting 45 on the end of the wire tong 46 in thesame manner as shown in Fig. 2; but the block is turned on its side sothat its side engages the ring fitting 45, thus maintaining the ropesclear of the pole and its fittings.

The wire tong clamp 36 has one of its clamping members I05 of animproved construction provided with an integral extension ID! foranchoring the lower block 42 by means of its hook 4|. Such a clampingmember I05 is shown in Figs. 14 to 16. This clamping member may be inall ways similar to the clamping member 49, previously described, exceptthat it is provided on one end with an integral extension I01, which maybe of substantially U shape, forming a closed loop or elongated apertureI08 for receiving the hook M of the block 42.

As shown in Fig. 16, this extension I01 comprises a pair of legs I09,HII, which are spaced from each other substantially the same as the ribs31, 38, which receive the pivotal connection of the saddle.

The legs I09, H ma be relatively thin, but wide, and are joined not onlyto the cylindrical body I of the clamp, but to the ribs 31, 38, andextend diagonally outward with respect to the axis of the clamp, asshown in Fig. 15. The two legs I09, H0 are integrally joined by a yoke II I, which may be substantially cylindrical, and which is to engage thehook 4 I The diagonal arrangement of the extension IITI is adapted tospace the lower block 42 from the wire tong 46 so that the pulleys orropes will not interfere with the parts of the wire tong, but the forceapplied by the block and tackle is applied as close as possible to theaxis of the wire tong pole, and the wire tong may be rotated on thesaddle without any restraint on the block and tackle because the lowerblock is attached to the clamp itself.

Referring to Fig. 10, this is another modification, in which the mode ofattachment of the block 42 is as shown in Fig. 9, but a special blockanchor H2 is provided for the upper end of the wire tong.

This block anchor I I2 is shown in Figs. 11, 12, and 13. It comprises apair of castings H3, H4 and a threaded member H5. The casting H3 isformed with a central threaded bore H5 for receiving the threaded partof the eye bolt H5. The casting H3 has formed about the bore H6 on oneside a groove I II, which is adapted to receive the ring 45 on the ringfitting of the wire tong 46.

The groove I I1 is, therefore, substantially semicircular incross-sectional shape and annular in plan; and this portion ofthecasting H3 is substantiall circular, except that a portion must becut away as at H8, to provide room for the socket portion H9 of the ringfitting 45.

The circular portion of the casting H3 has a flat lateral extension I20,which extends laterally and downwardly, and which has an enlargedaperture I2I for receiving the hook of the upper block 43; and also thisaperture is enlarged to reduce the weight of the assembly.

The other clamping member H4 may consist of a substantially circulardisc, having a central aperture I22 for receiving the screw bolt H5, and

bordered by a depending annular flange I23 for embracing the ring 45;but, here again the annular flange I23 and part of the clamping memberH4 is cut away at the socket portion H8 of the ring fitting 45.

As shown in Fig. 13, the ring 45 may be placed in the groove III, theclamping member H4 placed on top of it, and the eye screw H5 passedthrough the ring and through the clamping member H4 and threaded intothe bore H5. The eye screw H5 has an annular shoulder I24, which engagesthe clamping member I I4; and when the eye bolt is driven home, the ring45 is securely clamped between the members I I3, I I4.

Thus, the end of the wire tong may be provided with a lateral extensionfor engagement with the block at this point to assure the securement ofthe two blocks in parallel positions with respect to the wire tong 46.

It will thus be observed that one of the common features of all of thesemodifications is that force is applied to the end of the wire tong in adirection parallel to the axis of the wire tong pole; and furthermore,the block being attached to the wire tong clamp outwardly of its pivoton the pole saddle, the wire tong can be rotated on the saddle or movedin any desired wa on the saddle without the restraint on the block andtackle.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. An operating pole securing assembly for the application of forcesubstantially longitudinally of the operating pole and for assistingsaid force comprising, a saddle and securing chain for securing theassembly to a line pole, said saddle having an outwardly projecting,round, hollow lug provided with an end wall having a circular bore, arotatable member having a securing bolt in said bore, said rotatablemember having a thrust flange engaging the end of said lug and having apivot flange at right angles to the thrust flange and provided with athrough bore, a pole clamp comprising a pair of clamping members and asecuring bolt, one of said clamping members having-a pair of pivotflanges located on opposite sides of the first-mentioned pivot flange, asubstantially U-shaped member having its legs provided with registeringbores adjacent their ends and a pintle member passing through both ofsaid pivot flanges and through the bores in said U-shaped member, saidpole clamp slidably or fixedly supporting a pole at any of amultiplicity of angles with respect to the line pole due to said pintleand pivot flanges, and said saddle and rotatable member permitting therotation of the pole on an axis at right angles to the line pole, theU-shaped member permitting the application of force to the end of theoperating pole substantially along the axis of the operating pole.

2. An operating pole assembly comprising, an elongated wooden insulatingpole having a metal fixture with an eye at one end and having means forgrasping a transmission line conductor at the other end, a pole clampingmember comprising, a pair of cylindrical clamping jaws pivoted togetherand provided withan adjustable securing 9 bolt for slidably or fixedlysupporting the operating pole, one of said clamping ja-Ws being providedwith a pivot flange, a rotatable supporting member provided with a pivotflange and a U- shaped member having registering apertures in its legs,a pintle passing through the apertures in said U-shaped member andthrough said pivot flanges, a force supplying tackle having one endsecured to the eye on said operating pole and the other end secured tosaid U-shaped member for forcibly moving said operating pole1ongitudinally in its clamping member, a saddle supporting saidrotatable member and having a laterally projecting lug with a borereceiving a trunnion carried by said rotatable member, and a chain forsecuring said saddle to a line pole, the operating pole being rotatablewith said rotatable member to any angle relative to the axis of the linepole for engagement with a transmission line conductor, with the saddlerotated at any of a multiplicity of positions longitudinally of the linepole, and said pintle permitting the angular movement of DAVID C.HUBBARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 655,851 Coleman Aug. 14, 19001,394,020 Johnson Oct. 18, 1921 1,485,228 Johnson Feb. 26, 19241,616,764 Simmons Feb. 8, 1927 1,626,861 Murray May 3, 1927 1,706,801Merrill Mar. 26, 1929 1,819,768 Coiling Aug. 18, 1931 1,895,746 BatesJan. 31, 1933 1,979,688 Hamer Nov. 6, 1934

